Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics - 12/12/19 NBA Picks, Odds, and Prediction

Game: Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics

Date: Thursday, December 12, 2019

Location: TD Garden in Boston, MA

TV: TNT

Odds/Point Spread: Boston -2

Total/Over-Under: 213

TD Garden is the site where Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics (17-5, 1st in the Atlantic Division) will play the Philadelphia 76ers (18-7, 2nd in the Atlantic Division) on Thursday. Philadelphia opens this contest as 2 point underdogs. The total is set at 213.

The 76ers are covering the spread 47.8% of the time, having gone 11-12-2 ATS. Boston is covering 70.0% of the time, going 14-6-2 against the spread.

Key Philadelphia 76ers Injuries

12/10/2019 Jonah Bolden PF Achilles Game Time Decision
12/9/2019 Zhaire Smith SG Leg Game Time Decision

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

12/10/2019 Tacko Fall C Knee Game Time Decision
12/10/2019 Marcus Smart PG Eye Game Time Decision
12/10/2019 Robert Williams C Hip Expected to be out until at least Dec 12
12/10/2019 Romeo Langford SG Ankle Expected to be out until at least Dec 12

Player Spotlight

Tobias Harris comes into this contest averaging 19.2 points per game while playing 34.2 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 7.0 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 49% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 80%. Joel Embiid averages 22.0 points per game in 30.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.1 assists per contest and 12.4 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 46% for the year while his free throw percentage is 81%.

Player Spotlight

Jaylen Brown averages 20.0 points per game while playing 33.4 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 6.9 rebounds per game and has 1.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is at 73%. Jayson Tatum averages 21.1 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 34.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 7.2 rebounds per contest and 2.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is 82%.

Useful Team Statistics

Philadelphia averages 109.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 16th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 6.2 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 3rd. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 8th in the league. They average 46.3 rebounds per game and 26.8 assists per game, which ranks them 9th and 3rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 3rd with 16.5 per game. The 76ers allow 103.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 4th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 15th and 12th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 39.4 rebounds a game which ranks 1st and they give up 20.7 assists per contest, which puts them in 1st place in the league. They force 15.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 18th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Boston is 15th in the league with 110.6 points per game this year. They are 17th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 7.9. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 14th in the NBA. They are 12th in the league in rebounding with 45.8 boards per game, and 20th in assists per contest with 23.4. The Celtics are 29th in turnovers per game with 13.5. The Celtics surrender 102.8 points per contest, which ranks them 2nd in the NBA. Their defense allows a 43% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 4th and 4th in those defensive statistics. They rank 6th with 22.4 assists allowed per contest and 24th with 46.5 rebounds surrendered per game. The Celtics are 27th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 16.7 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The 76ers are 14th in the league in defensive rating with 102.9, and their offensive rating of 109.1 is ranked 3rd. They are 18th in the NBA in pace with 100.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 7th. As a unit they are 10th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 25th in the NBA. Philadelphia is 5th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 18th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Boston is 27th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 26th in the league. The Celtics are 8th in the NBA in offensive rating with 111, and their defensive rating of 103.1 is ranked 4th. In terms of pace they are 21st in the league with 99.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 17th. As a team they are 14th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shots, ranking 13th in the league.

Who will win tonight's 76ers/Celtics NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Philadelphia +2

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